Page 39 of The Killer You Know

“That’s their MO,” Jack says. “Smudge and fudge. Let’s superimpose them with the prints at the scenes from the murder and from the kidnapping.”

In seconds we’re treated to a trio of footprints and each halo of dirt and blood measures out to about the same size range.

“We’re looking at one perpetrator,” Nikki says. “The only thing that leaves a shadow of a doubt in my mind is the fact Brittney was kidnapped at a little after three in the afternoon. And the coroner put Robin’s time of death in roughly the same range.”

Jack nods. “It’s about a twenty-minute drive from Aspen Heights to Cedar Grove. I think it’s ambitious on the kidnapper’s part but doable.”

“If that’s true, I’m guessing the kidnapping would have happened first,” Hale says. “The murder was messy.”

“They could have had Brittney in the trunk,” Nikki says. “You think Robin’s murder was a kidnapping gone wrong?”

“I’m thinking not.” I shake my head at the thought. “They walked in with rage. They wanted her gone.”

“Just like they wanted Sophie gone.” Jack glances at the screen at his old friend and his expression falls this side of sorrow.

“But why take Brittney?” Nikki presses on. “And why take her with witnesses around?”

“Maybe they miscalculated?” I say, doubting my own words. “Not that I believe it. Something is up. I have a feeling the answer is staring us right in the face.”

“I’m wondering if we’ve been staring the killer in the face.” Jack motions for the laptop and Hale slides it over. “Baxter and I just had Derek Russell give us the grand tour of both his bar and his hovel last night. I’m going to input his name into the NCIC and see what comes up.”

“Good call.” I nod in agreement.

The National Crime Information Center is the FBI’s most powerful database that is made available to federal, state, and local law enforcement as well.

“Derek Russell, Aspen Heights, Derek Russell, Elmwood,” Jack mutters as his fingers fly across the keyboard. “And bingo. Here he is with his ugly mug. He had an arrest a few years back for racketeering charges.”

“Racketeering?” I lean in closer, intrigued by this new piece of the puzzle. “That’s serious. What was the angle?”

Jack’s eyes scan the text. “Looks like it was tied to an illegal gambling ring. He was caught up in organizing underground poker games, high stakes, lots of cash flowing under the table. The kind of operation that catches our attention not just for the gambling, but for the potential laundering that usually tags along with it.”

“So, he did time for it?” Nikki asks and Buddy bobs his head this way as well, looking just as eager to glean the answer.

“Yeah.” Jack’s tone is grim. “Sentenced to a short stint, but it seems like he got off lighter than most. Only served six months before he was out again. Must have had a decent lawyer.” His fingers start to fly over the keyboard once again. “I’m checking to see if there’s any other property on record that he might hold the key to.”

“Look under the Penalty Box, too,” I suggest. “Although he might be incorporated and who knows what he’s calling himself in that case.”

“Nothing under his name or the Penalty Box.” Jack pauses to stare at the screen.

“What are you doing next?” Hale asks the three of us sternly and it has all the appeal of a pop quiz.

“I’ll keep digging through the socials and emails,” Nikki says.

“Same,” I say.

Jack nods. “I will, too. And in addition to that, I’m taking these two to my twenty-year prom. You want an invite?”

Hale looks mildly offended. “You feel free to dance the night away. Don’t wait for me to show up with a corsage, sweetie.”

“Oh.” Nikki perks up as she looks my way. “We should get new dresses. Something that brings out the wicked witch in our eyes,” she teases.

“And something that conceals our Glocks,” I suggest.

“I’ll be packing heat,” Jack says. “By way of having two beautiful women by my side. And, of course, I’ll have my gun.”

Hale chuckles. “You be careful about who you call beautiful. HR is only a hop and a skip away and I’ve seen people hauled in for less.”

“Duly noted.” Jack nods to Nikki and me. “How about we lay down arms and find ourselves a killer?”

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